Two final day medals wrapped up the Australian Cycling Team’s 2018 UCI Track Cycling World Championships campaign in the Netherlands, with the team's six medals equalling Germany, Great Britain and Italy for second most behind hosts the Netherlands (12 medals). ​Each of the four members of the team celebrated on the podium during the Championships, with sizzling wins from Matt Glaetzer (sprint) andCameron Meyer (points race) highlighting the performances.

Stephanie Morton (sprint) and Glaetzer (time trial) claimed silver, while Callum Scotson bookended his Championships with bronze medals in the scratch and in the Madison with Meyer.

Madison

Dual Madison world champion Cameron Meyer teamed with Callum Scotson to ensure Australia finished on the podium for the second straight year with the pair taking bronze in a punishing men’s Madison.

“To be on the podium in a Madison world championships isn’t an easy to do, it is one of the hardest events to back up a win, even just to back up a podium appearance,” said Meyer after claiming his sixth World Championship Madison medal.

“So for us to be consistent two years in a row, last year with silver and this year with bronze, it is another step in the right direction and it shows that we are around the mark.”

The major contenders kept their cards close to their chests in the opening laps of the 200-lap race, with Belgium, Spain, France and Italy figuring prominently in the first five sprints.

The first major move of the day came from Austria, with the duo of Andreas Graf and Andrew Muller taking a lap, and the twenty points, to move into the lead (30points) after fifty laps.

A deliberate move from Meyer and Scotson at the halfway mark saw them pounce on a lull in the action to claim two straight sprint maximums, and a lap on the field, which catapulted them into the joint lead with Austria on 30pts.

With 70 laps remaining, Germany’s Roger Kluge and Theo Reinhardt and Spain’s Albert Torres Barcelo and Sebastian Mora Vedri rocketed into the top two positions on 40 and 31 points respectively after taking a lap.

With the race beginning to splinter as the pace hovered at an excruciating pace just shy of sixty kilometres an hour, Australia and Belgium joined forces in the hunt at the front for a lap on the field. However sensing the imminent danger, the Germans and Spanish duos nullified any notion of an attack by keeping the teams within a bike length’s distance.

In a classy finish to their masterful race, Germany won two of the final four sprints to to all but secure their victory heading into the final sprint on 53points.

In an pulsating final few laps, Australia held off a late surge by Great Britain to hold onto bronze (37pts), just eight points behind Spain (45pts) who grabbed the silver medal.

“It was quick out there again tonight, there was a bit of a stand off in the first half of the race, all the favourites didn’t want to move too early knowing it was going to be a tough end to the race,” said Meyer. “We saw an opportunity and went for it.

“The actual moment to win the world title was there, we saw it, but unfortunately we didn’t quite have the legs. But Germany was super strong, so was Spain.”

With the Madison back on the program for Tokyo 2020, the bronze continues the pair’s strong campaign towards Olympic glory. Their season also including winning the prestigious London Six Day last October and Madison gold at the UCI World Cup in Poland in November.

“I think the bigger thing for us in that we are consistently on the podium, we are the most consistent country which is not easy in this event,” said Scotson, who won scratch bronze on day two.

“You always feel disappointed straight after a race, but I am sure we are going to take some really good points out of this race and hopefully we can edge closer to the top of the podium as we get closer to Tokyo,” who reflected on his and the team’s performance at the Championships.

“To achieve two medals myself, and our team here, everyone worked together well and the results showed how good the culture was over here.

“It is quite impressive for us to pull off so many medals for just the four of us. We are all really happy.”

Time trial

Less than twenty-four hours after claiming his maiden sprint world title, Matthew Glaetzer was back on track with an eye on the time trial podium.

In November, Glaetzer became the first person to ride under one minute in the kilometre time trial at sea level with a sizzling 59.970secs ride at the World Cup in Manchester. The powerful South Australian then eclipsed this time with a scorching 59.759secs at the National Championships in Brisbane.

On the final day of the World Championships in Apeldoorn, Glaetzer rocketed to two blistering times to beat his world mark (59.733 in qualifying and 59.745 in the final).

However, this was good for silver in the event with Dutch hero Jeffrey Hoogland riding a wave of parochial hometown support to gold with two sizzling times to set a new world-mark (59.517, 59.459).

​Photo Casey Gibson

Adelaide’s Matthew Glaetzer is celebrating after storming to his maiden sprint world crown at the 2018 UCI Track World Championships in the Netherlands on Sunday morning Australian time.

Glaetzer's electrifying speed tore through the field, with the 25-year-old claiming the Australian Cycling Team’s first gold in the men’s blue riband event in sixteen years (Sean Eadie 2002).

“I have been wanting to pull that jersey on for so long, so to see the Australian flag raised above me was such a special moment,” said a relieved Glaetzer, 25, who had earned five top-six finishes at the World Championships since 2013, including the 2016 silver medal. Glaetzer also finished just outside the medals at both the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (fourth) and the 2014 Commonwealth Games (fifth).

“I have finally backed up the speed, finally put the money where the legs are so to speak.

“We have worked so hard as a team for this and it was great to see a reward for it.”

Glaetzer opened his sprint campaign on Friday in scorching style (9.677) with the second fastest flying 200m qualifying ride of the day, just three-thousandths behind Jeffrey Hoogland (NED-9.674).

Glaetzer's undefeated reign began with Rayan Helal (FRA) in the round 1/8, before a clinical dispatching of reigning champion Denis Dmitriev (RUS), who had reached the podium in each of the past five World Championships, in the quarterfinals.

In the semi-final, Glaetzer sent France’s Sebastian Vigier packing in two straight heats before showing his class against Great Britain’s youngster Jack Carlin, 20, in an exciting final.

“I had a fantastic race meet, each race was quite good, didn’t really mess up at all,” an honest Glaetzer revealed. “I normally make mistakes and get caught out, one mistake is all it costs at this level. But this time I didn’t and that was the key.

“I kept myself in a really good mindset, every single round I treated like the final. And I was so focussed on taking it one race at a time and all of a sudden I am in a final.

“So I had to block the thoughts out of winning it and keep focussed on what I had to do to win it.

“Just ripped it in my last two rides, gave it everything I had and I am the world champ!”

Immediately post race, Glaetzer paid tribute to former Australian Cycling Team Head Sprint Coach Gary West who lost his battle with MND in August last year.

“I can imagine how happy and emotional he would be right now,” said Glaetzer. “He put so much time and effort into me, he was so passionate about the sport and put so much of his life into his athletes and my thoughts go out to the West family today.

“He is a big part of this achievement today.”

Glaetzer’s 2018 World Championship campaign concludes on Sunday in the time trial. In Manchester in November, Glaetzer became the first person to clock a sub one-minute ride (59.970) in the kilometre time trial at sea level, before he again eclipsed this mark with a scorching 59.759secs at the Nationals in Brisbane in February.

Perth’s Cameron Meyer claimed a ninth career world title with a masterful display in the men’s points race while Adelaide’s Stephanie Morton surged to silver in the women's sprint at the 2018 UCI Track World Championships in the Netherlands.

Also in action for the Australian Cycling Team was Matthew Glaetzer who progressed to the sprint quarterfinals following a strong opening to his sprint campaign which saw him clock a superb 9.677secs in qualifying.

Men’s Points Race

​Perth’s Cameron Meyer claimed a fifth points race title and ninth career world crown following a masterful display in Apeldoorn on Friday evening.

“Points race world title number five, it was a hard one but I am very happy,” said Meyer who added to his 2009, 10, 12 and 17 points race world titles. “It is special, everyone of them is special, especially when you win a gold medal in the world championships.”

The pace was on from the start of 160-lap race, with plenty of attacks treating the crowd across the opening thirty laps. The first major move of the day came from the trio of Belgium’s Kenny Ketele, Great Britain’s Mark Stewart and Hong Kong’s King Lok Cheung who took the first lap on the field.

A calculated Meyer, who collected maximum points in three of the first eight sprints, made his first move shortly after the trio gained their advantage, with the West Australian catapulting into the lead at the halfway mark (45pts) after taking a solo lap.

With a litany of attacks ensuing over the latter half of the race, a further lap was taken by Ketele, Stewart, Cheung which stole the lead off Meyer. But as if writing his own Oscar winning biography, Meyer crafted his way to another solo lap and a commanding lead (70pts) with two sprints remaining.

With the laps ticking away as the bunch attempted a late surge, Meyer remained in control with his victory secured before the final sprint to the line which saw hometown favourite Jan Willem van Schip (52pts) finish ahead of Stewart (49pts) to take the silver medal.

“There were a lot of laps taken, attacks from lots riders, so it needed multiple laps from me to take the win,” added Meyer. “For tonight I had pretty good legs and was able to pull off the win.

“To win is not easy, to be one of the favourites every time, it is a lot of pressure.

“But I enjoy it, and to be able to wear the rainbow jersey again for another year is a special moment.”

​Meyer will now turn his attention to Sunday’s Madison final in which he will partner Callum Scotson who claimed bronze in the scratch race on day two. The pair are aiming to go one better than their silver medal performance at the 2017 World Championships.

Reigning Commonwealth champion Stephanie Morton surged to the silver medal in the women’s sprint at the 2018 UCI Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.

Only the might of reigning Olympic champion German Kristina Vogel – whose eleventh world title equalled Australia’s Anna Meares record for most all-time - could stop the South Australian’s charge at her maiden crown, with Morton challenging the great in their thrilling final clash.

For the third straight World Championships, South Australia’s Morton topped qualifying with a scorching time of 10.645secs on Friday, which was just two-hundredths outside her personal best (10.632) set in November.

A measured and controlled quarterfinal victory over the experienced Simona Krupeckaite (UKR), a five-time sprint world championships medallist, was equalled with another commanding win over 2017 bronze medallist Wai Sze Lee in the semis.

In a rematch of the 2016 final, Vogel and Morton treated the crowd to a thrilling contest, with the pace of the German too much for Morton in their first heat.

Morton lifted in the second, taking control with a powerful surge on the back straight which sent the clash to a third and deciding heat. There, the experience of Vogel shone, as she soared to a fourth sprint crown while Morton claimed silver for the second straight year.

“This year I knew what to expect, explained Morton. “I was cool, calm and collected through the rounds, I was working on the processes, going in with a plan, forgetting who I was up against. Just looking at a game of strength and weaknesses.

“It just shows everything we are doing is right, we are on the right path.

"To get one up on Vogel in the final, is a step up from last year. I am absolutely stoked. To take the race to three that just shows, it is getting closer, I've just got to keep chipping away and hopefully next year it will be the top step.”

The result continues a tremendous 2017/18 season for Morton which has included dual UCI World Cup medals and triple Oceania and National titles. And like the entire Australian Cycling Team, Morton has her sights set on glory at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.

“This isn’t the targeted event for us for the year, so to be able to not be at the peak and get a silver and run a 10.6, it definitely exceeded my expectations,” Morton explained. “But that just shows you can’t come in with that mindset of this isn’t the race we are going for, you have to come in and rip every race and go for it.

“You can train and train, but it is not until you come out here and have to race, it helps you get that level up in fitness, having to back it up throughout the rounds.

“And that’s what I did here, tried to ride the fastest 200m I could, and take each race one by one."

Morton’s campaign will continue on Saturday in the 500m time trial followed by the keirin on Sunday.

]]>Thu, 01 Mar 2018 20:57:14 GMThttp://www.australiancyclingteam.com/news/morton-motors-to-final-four-scotson-grabs-sratch-bronze2017 World Championships silver medallist Stephanie Morton motored into the final four in the women's sprint, and Callum Scotson opened the Australian Cycling Team’s medal account with bronze in a fast and furious men’s scratch race, on day two at the 2018 UCI Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands

2017 World Championships silver medallist Stephanie Morton motored into the final four and into championship contention with an authoritative opening to her women’s sprint campaign.

For the third straight World Championships, South Australia’s Morton topped the women’s sprint qualifying. Her scorching time of 10.645secs was just two-hundredths outside her personal best (10.632) set at the UCI Track World Cup in Poland in November.

As fastest qualifier, Morton was excused from the round 1/16 match ups, however she quickly accounted for Liubov Basova (UKR) in the round 1/8, before a measured and controlled quarterfinal victory over the experienced Simona Krupeckaite (UKR), a five-time sprint world championships medallist.

It has been a stellar 2017/18 season for the twenty-seven-year-old Morton with dual UCI World Cup medals in November, triple Oceania and National titles.

In five weeks time, Morton will line up to defend her Commonwealth Games sprint crown at the 2018 Gold Coast Games.

Men’s Scratch RaceAdelaide’s Callum Scotson opened Australia’s medal account with bronze in a fast and furious men’s scratch race.“Feels really great (to win bronze), coming here it has been the Madison we have been focusing on,” Scotson said after claiming his first individual World Championships medal. “Cam (Meyer) and I want to try and improve on silver in 2017, so for me to come here in this event, after a good ride in the scratch at the World Cup earlier in the season, I am pretty stoked to find myself on the podium.”Scotson formed a trio of riders who lead an auspicious attack at the midway point of the 60-lap race with Italy’s Michele Scartezzini and Yauheni Karaliok from the Belarus, with the trio taking a lap on the field with twenty laps remaining.With the punishing 55-kilometre per hour pace taking its toll, and the podium all but decided inside the final ten laps, it was Karaliok who had the legs to take gold, with Scartezzini taking silver and Scotson bronze.“It was certainly hard one tactically and physically,” said Scotson. “It was certainly hard just getting there (the lap), I had good legs in the breakaway and we worked hard to get to the back of the bunch.“But winner played it right, I got stuck and bit back towards the final run and caught a bit wide.“It is a really good start and gives me good confidence heading into the Madison on Sunday. We (Cam and I) have put a lot of effort into this, it has been two years building to this now, we are pretty hungry.”

Men’s KeirinSouth Australia’s Matthew Glaetzer finished seventh in the men’s keirin won by Colombia’s Fabian Puertas.A storming victory in the first round saw the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallist move straight through to the second round. However, Glaetzer was pushed into fourth place in the second round, and out of the final, by Puertas and eventual bronze medallist Maximilian Levy.In the race for 7th – 12th places, Glaetzer showed his strength with a powerful surge to the line to take seventh overall.Glaetzer will be back on the track on day three in the men’s sprint.

]]>Wed, 28 Feb 2018 03:56:06 GMThttp://www.australiancyclingteam.com/news/2018-track-worlds-previewThe Australian Cycling Team is set to commence its campaign at the 2018 UCI Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, which runs February 28 - March 4 2018.

Team for 2018 Track Worlds

In alignment with Cycling Australia's 2020 High Performance strategy, and with the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games set as the benchmark event of the year, the Australian Cycling Team for the Championships has been carefully selected with individual and team long-term goals in mind.

"We have a small team, but we have a quality team, and quality is what matters," said Simon Jones, Performance Director, Australian Cycling Team. "We have several medal chances in Olympic events and the focus will be on how we can convert those opportunities.

Stephanie Morton (SA)

Stephanie Morton (SA) announced herself at the 2017 World Championships in Hong Kong with silver in both the sprint and team sprint (with McCulloch).

At the 2018 UCI Track World Championships in the Netherlands, she will line up in the sprint, keirin and 500m time trial.

Morton’s 2017/18 campaign began with sprint silver and keirin bronze at the UCI World Cup in Poland, and continued with triple gold at both the Oceania Championships in November and at the National Championships in Brisbane earlier in February in the sprint, team sprint and keirin.

2012 team sprint world champion and 2016 sprint silver medallist Matthew Glaetzer (SA) will line up in the sprint, keirin and time trial.

Glaetzer’s season opened with a bang in November with sprint gold at the UCI World Cup in Poland, before bagging sprint bronze and becoming the first person to ride under one minute (59.970) in the kilometre time trial at sea level at the second leg of the World Cup in Manchester.

Glaetzer then eclipsed this time with a scorching 59.759secs at the recent Nationals in Brisbane earlier in February. The win came during Matt's four gold medal haul in Brisbane which saw him also claim the sprint, team sprint and keirin crowns.

The pair will be looking to go one better than their 2017 silver medal following early 2017/18 season success which included winning the prestigious London Six Day in October followed by Madison gold at the UCI World Cup in Poland in November.

Meyer will line up in defence of his points race crown, while Scotson will contest the scratch race.

Cycling Australia (CA) is proud to announce the Australian Cycling Team. The name ‘Australian Cycling Team’ will now be used to encompass the national squad athletes, coaches and performance support staff, previously branded the CA High Performance Unit, or HPU.

The 55-strong group of Olympic and Paralympic cycling discipline athletes will receive program support for Track and Para, and Individual Athlete Performance Support (IAPS) for Road and BMX, and form the core group from which CA launches its Tokyo 2020 attack.

Athletes named in the Australian Cycling Team have achieved, or have the potential to achieve, success at the highest level and are acknowledged and supported under the Australian Sports Commission’s athlete categorisation guidelines as Podium Potential or above. Specifically, the team consists of 22 Track athletes, 15 Para (Track & Road), 13 Road and five BMX athletes (4 Super-cross and 1 Freestyle), with an Olympic and Paralympic event focus.

CA’s Performance Director, Simon Jones, said that the new name (Australian Cycling Team) explains more simply what we are, and what we are about, and provides a clear destination for those further down the athlete pathway to aspire towards.

“The Australian Cycling Team is a group of world-class athletes who have achieved success at the highest level, or who are on their way, with huge potential. Being part of the team means that they will be supported with the best possible coaching and performance support they need to achieve their goals.

“Underpinning the team is our national high performance network of state institutes and state bodies, which will continue to play a key role in the athlete pathway by identifying and supporting a further 74 Emerging and Developing international athletes with the objective of preparing them for a successful progression into the Australian Cycling Team, based at the Adelaide Super-drome.”

Athletes in the Australian Cycling Team may receive a range of individualised performance support services, such as:

Financial support from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) via dAIS performance-based support and the Australian Cycling Team athlete living support and / or Individual Athlete Performance Support (IAPS), and Personal Excellence (off-bike endeavours)

Athletes can also receive financial support from the AOC Medal Incentive Fund, which is performance-based funding following podium performances in Olympic disciplines at identified benchmark competitions

Jones said it was important to note that inclusion in the Australian Cycling Team does not provide automatic selection to World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Olympic or Paralympic teams.

“Those opportunities still have to be earned, according to the respective discipline selection criteria” Jones said.

“We want a supportive yet challenging environment that sees athletes reaching their potential and achieving their goals and dreams. We want a system that provides upward pressure for limited places in the Podium categories from the athlete pathway which is supported by our state institutes and state sporting body partners that make up the High Performance Network, and by BMXA and MTBA.

The new Australian Cycling Team provides a clear destination for the Emerging and Developing athletes in the high performance network to aspire to be part of the next generation of champions.

The Performance 1st summary sets out the team’s gold medal targets, and the performance and operational support that the athletes will have access to.

The Australian Cycling Team High Performance Plan provides a one-page summary of the key elements of the Australian Cycling Team Strategy 2020 – 24, delivered by Simon Jones in October 2017. A dedicated website features profiles of the selected athletes along with updated Australian Cycling Team Discipline Specific Selection Criteria for all the key events of the year, including timelines for selection period, appeals process and team announcements.

CA’s Australian Cycling Team Strategy 2020 – 24 prioritises resources into Olympic and Paralympic cycling events and athletes with the desire and capability to perform at a world-class level. Aside from any funding or investment obligations, the Olympics and Paralympics are the world’s biggest multi-sport events and give us the chance to inspire and capture the imagination of a huge audience, including the future stars of our sport.

Cycling Australia is excited to be partnering with the world's best ball bearing manufacturer, CyclingCeramic.

CyclingCeramic will be supplying bearings for wheels and bottom brackets used by Cycling Australia's national track team.

The aim of the relationship between CA and Cycling Ceramic is to develop components that produce the most efficient track cycling drive train, via the reduction of friction. Cycling Ceramic bearings are lighter, longer lasting and harder than traditional bearing systems.

"In the pursuit of Commonwealth and Olympic gold, it's important that our athletes have the best possible equipment and components," said Cycling Australia High-Performance Director Simon Jones.

"This partnership shows our commitment to innovation with key partners who will help lead research and development within this space. When races are won or lost by hundredths of a second, every gain counts," he added.

The French manufacturer has been producing world-class components since it was established in 2012 and specialisesin the assembly of ceramic bearings. All products are manufactured and tested to the highest standards.

Ceramic bearings are composed of grade 3 ceramic beads that have been polished for 70 days to achieve the lowest friction in the world and reduce pedalling resistance. This minimizes the cyclists' wattage and means they will be able to take advantage of this energy saving in their final effort.

Australian Team Chef de Mission Steve Moneghetti welcomed the athletes on to the Australian Team.

“We enjoyed strong success at Glasgow 2014 from the Cycling team, so with the depth and experience we have in this team we look forward to more success at Gold Coast 2018,” he said.

“The cycling program is an incredibly exciting one for fans, with competition at the new Anna Meares Velodrome, road cycling events that are free and open to all spectators and mountain biking at the Nerang trails.

“With many of these athletes spending a lot of time abroad, Gold Coast 2018 provides a unique chance for these athletes to compete in front of a home crowd,” Moneghetti said.

With the announcement of the 36 cyclists today, the Australian Team currently numbers 222, or just under half the anticipated total of 470 athletes.

TEAM OVERVIEW

The men’s track endurance squad is replete with rainbow jerseys, with reigning team pursuit world champions Samuel Welsford, Kelland O’Brien, Leigh Howard, Alexander Porter and Nicholas Yallouris, plus individual pursuit world champion Jordan Kerby; named in their first Games’ team.

Three-time world champion Leigh Howard will also debut, with eight-time world champion and triple 2010 Games Gold medallist Cameron Meyer rounding out the strong line up.

“It’s really not that often someone gets to represent their country in a home Commonwealth Games in their career, so for me, it’s something very special that I’ll never forget,” said Cure, a dual medallist from 2014.

“(I am) super excited to have the team pursuit on the calendar at the Games. I’m really excited to see what the team can achieve; as one of our three Olympic events, it’s great to get another opportunity to race this race in front of big crowds.”

“I have very fond memories of the 2014 Commonwealth Games from Glasgow, so I am really excited about lining up in the road race in 2018,” said Edmondson, who won Gold and Silver in the pursuit events on the track four years ago.“Of course being a home games there’s a bit of added pressure, but we are going to have a home crowd cheering us on which is going to be huge.

“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity of racing in the green and gold on home soil!”

Triple world championship medallist and 2014 Commonwealth Bronze medallist Katrin Garfoot will head the six-member women’s team with reigning road national champion Shannon Malseed, dual national road champion Gracie Elvin and 2010 Games Bronze medallist Chloe Hosking, who gains a third team selection.

2010 team member Tiffany Cromwell returns while Sarah Roy makes her debut.

“It's a bit of a pinch yourself moment,” said Hosking who becomes just the third Australian female cycling behind Anna Meares and Kathy Watt to be named to contest three Commonwealth Games. “To think I represented Australia at 20 in Delhi and I'm still racing and still getting stronger and still pulling on the green and gold. I would never have dreamt this growing up.”

The Tandem Para-cycling selections are led by 2016 world champions Jessica Gallagher and Pilot Madison Janssen, while Bradley Henderson will make his debut with Pilot Thomas Clarke who won Bronze at the 2014 Games. 2014 Bronze medallists and dual Olympians Daniel McConnell and Rebecca McConnell (nee Henderson) will contest the mountain bike cross-country competition.

“I'm very excited about the upcoming Games, to have a home Commonwealth Games is going to be a great experience,” said McConnell who grabbed a top ten finish at last year’s World Championships in Cairns. “I have pretty high expectations going into the Games.

“I really like the course, I think it suits my strength pretty well. I just want to get to the start line 100% fit and ready to go, if I can do that anything is possible.”Similarly, Rebecca McConnell is hoping the home course advantage plays into her hands when she lines up against a world-class field.

“I have been fortunate enough to race on the course at the Nationals Series in January, it's a great course, with technical climbing and descending and the strongest rider will win,” said Henderson. “With world champions and World Cup winners in both the men's and the women's field the racing is going to be fast and exciting so we hope to see lots of spectators in April!”

Australia has enjoyed strong success at recent Games with a 24-medal haul including seven gold in Glasgow in 2014, and 21 medals (14 gold) in Delhi in 2010.

Tickets still available to 12 sports across the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games competition schedule.

Cycling Australia is pleased to announce an experienced four-rider team for the 2018 UCI Track World Championships to be held in Apeldoorn, Netherlands from February 28 - March 4 2018.

In line with the CA High Performance Strategy, the Commonwealth Games has been set as the benchmark event of the year, rather than Track Worlds, and this is reflected in the smaller than usual team for the event.

This is a one-off strategy for 2018, as the 2019/2020 Track Worlds will be part of Olympic qualification.

Dual 2017 silver medallist Stephanie Morton (SA) will line up in the sprint, keirin and 500m time trial looking to pull on the rainbow jersey following success at the opening round of the Tissot UCI Track World Cup and Oceania Track Championships.

2012 team sprint world champion and 2016 sprint silver medallist Matthew Glaetzer (SA) will tackle the sprint and keirin. As well as lining up in the 1km time trial, an event he became the first person to ride under one minute at sea level at the Manchester Track World Cup in November.

In endurance events eight-time world champion Cameron Meyer (WA) will defend his points race title while also partnering Callum Scotson (SA) in the Madison, as they look to improve on silver from a year ago. Scotson will also compete in the scratch race.

The four selected athletes competed in the first two UCI World Cups in Poland and Manchester targeting Olympic events, with Glaetzer winning men's sprint in Poland, Meyer and Scotson winning the men's Madison and Morton winning silver in the sprint and bronze in the keirin, and will head into the World Championships with confidence.

With the focus on the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games the team has been carefullly selected with individual and team long term goals in mind, and in alignment with Cycling Australia's 2020 strategy.